The Truth About Storytelling

Hello and welcome! In today's episode, I discuss communication in world-building, both the practical aspects based on time in history, fantasy, contemporary or futuristic fiction, as well as the aspect of expectations and access to communication. I'm also sharing a bit of book news. I'm giving away up to 53 copies of 25 Impossible Tales of Survivors, Flawed Heroes, and Annoyed Villains for my 53rd...

In this episode, I am reading out loud Chapters 19 and 20 from Champion in the Darkness. In addition to that, I want to wish everyone with August birthdays a very happy birthday! I read Sean McLachlan's newsletter today and he is offering up a free book to celebrate his birthday, and I thought, what a great idea! So, I am doing the same, but only offering up 53 copies for my 53rd birthday. 25 Impo...

In this one-off episode, I discuss reasons authors might want to pivot in their author business or writing, what some pros and cons are with pivoting, and questions to use when considering pivoting. I also discuss the reason for this episode - my own pivot for Dark Blade Forged's release in October. Next week, I will be back on Wednesday for more Worldbuilding. Links: Street Team Google Sign-up My...

In this episode, I read Chapter 18 from Champion in the Darkness, discuss favorite characters, and creating depth in a secondary character and how that led to writing a new series. I also ask a few questions: Can you tell which point of view character was my favorite character while I was writing? And, if you are a Kickstarter backer, do you expect to receive a new book months in advance of the wi...

In this episode, I attempt to tackle two subjects: Technology Use in Worldbuilding and the IWSG discussion topic about AI use. IWSG is a monthly blog hop about writing for writers and the AI discussion is in regards to our optional monthly question. Links: Tyrean’s Tales Website Summer Fantasy Adventures Book Funnel Blaster Cannons, Aliens, Space Opera, and Really Big Ships Book Funnel Noblebright...

In this episode, I dive into possible ways geography and landscape have affected our world’s cultures, trade, and worldviews, and how this can happen in our fiction world-building to affect our fictional characters and create conflict in our stories. Mentioned: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, The Champion Trilogy, The Rayatana Series, and Dark Blade: Forged. Links: Summe...

In this episode, I read aloud chapter 17 from my novel Champion in the Darkness, and discuss the issues with writing scary scenes in young adult novels. How much is too much detail? How much is enough? If you have thoughts, please feel free to let me know by messaging me. Is this scene PG-13 or more? Tyrean's Tales Website Summer Fantasy Adventures - 70 #free books, including Champion in the Darkn...

In this episode, I discuss four reasons to create maps for fiction narratives, whether those fiction narratives are set in imagined worlds or our contemporary world. I give examples from several books as well as some real life examples of how this exercise can help writers keep track of details, create obstacles for their characters, reveal important information about their characters, and create...

In this episode, I read chapter 16 of Champion in the Darkness and make a few remarks about the characters and their roles in this book as well as their roles in the prequel trilogy. Thanks for listening! Links: Champion in the Darkness Tyrean's Tales Newsletter and Podcast on Substac k Summer Fantasy Bookfunnel

Last week I had a bit of an “oops” with my podcast scheduling, plus I went to Realm Makers Writing Conference. This episode is all about those two bits of news. If you are new to my newsletter, this is what you will receive most of the time: a podcast episode and a brief show summary. At some point, I may start including a transcript. I usually release two episodes a week: a writing episode on Wed...

In this episode, I read chapter 16 of Champion in the Darkness and make a few remarks about the characters and their roles in this book as well as their roles in the prequel trilogy. Thanks for listening! Links: Champion in the Darkness Tyrean's Tales Newsletter and Podcast on Substac k Noble Bright Book Funnel - Champion in the Darkness ebook is free until July 20th through this.

In this episode, I discuss the way character is revealed through setting, and how setting can be a source of obstacles our characters face, especially in the area of travel in fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, and contemporary fiction. In this episode, I mentioned or made reference to: The Martian by Andy Weir, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, No Bed of Roses by Jemi Fraser, and my book...

In this writing episode, I introduce why I believe understanding setting and world-building details is important for us as authors, where I begin with setting and world-building, and briefly mention methods we can use to dive into our setting and world-building. I will be speaking more on this topic in coming episodes. In addition to that topic, I mentioned the Insecure Writer's Support Group and...

In this episode, I talk about three different reactions I get when I tell people I am an author, how I handle those interactions - sometimes well and sometimes awkwardly, and why I tell people if it's not always easy. Links to Current Book Funnels for July: Author Help Books - 10 Books for Authors! https://books.bookfunnel.com/authorhelp/1yr6dhtndq Fierce Fantasy Books - 140 Books! https://books.b...

In this episode, I read aloud Chapter 15 from Champion in the Darkness, my overtly Christian Fantasy novel I wrote over a decade ago, and I discuss what went into this chapter and the scenes within it, as well as how it relates to my prequel trilogy, The Dark Blade Trilogy. Links: Champion in the Darkness https://books2read.com/u/bW8kJ0 Tyrean's Tales https://tyreanstales.com/

In this episode, I give a brief discussion on Achievable Goals and Habits as an author. Show Links: Clear, James. “Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead.” Accessed 6/18/2024. https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems Clear, James. Atomic Habits. https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break-ebook/dp/B07D23CFGR/ eSoft Skills Team. “Sustainable Goal Setting for Personal and Professi...

In this episode, I share a few events going on this week, read chapters 12-14 of Champion in the Darkness, and discuss the enjoyment of giving my characters troubles, and staying away from info dumps. Links for this episode: Mysteries, Monsters, and Mayhem Podcast where I'll be a guest on June 15th. Fierce Fantasy Book Funnel - over 140 books! Author Help Books - 10 books for authors by authors Po...

In this episode, I discuss the need for sustainable goals in my writing life, and how rewards (planned or happenstance) motivate and inspire me to keep going. Mini Points in this episode Introduction (0:00) Example of a goal from my past and a question of sustainability (1:00) Rewriting Goals and Problems with a Perfectionist Attitude (2:32) SMART Goal (4:02) My reason for focusing on sustainabili...

Buckle up! These chapters come with a minor content warning. These chapters contain some of the most open faith-based fiction I have ever written, so if you're worldview is not the same, please prepare yourself. And if your faith worldview is similar to mine, please take a breath, and consider this is a fictional world. It's hard to juggle faith in a fictional setting, especially a fantasy fiction...

In this episode, I finally share the reason behind the name of this podcast The Truth About Storytelling , how it came to be, why I think it's important, and how truth in our storytelling can affect our fiction stories and our real lives. If you are interested in the last items I mention in the podcast, here are the links for those: IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group) Page Link For June 2024: A...

In this episode, I read out loud chapters 7 and 8 from Champion in the Darkness, and discuss projects I am currently working on, both one that relates to the Champion Trilogy and one that does not. I also mention a few promotional offers. Good through May 2nd: Magic and Mayhem - Free ebooks for Newsletter Sign Ups Clean Scifi and Fantasy on KU - Books only free in KU June 1-30: Fierce Fantasy - pr...

In this episode, I discuss character names and how they can have meaning in our writing. I did quite a bit of research for this episode, and I mention a number of links, which are listed here: 6 Creative Ways to Name Your Fictional Characters Character Names Cratylic Names Harry Potter and the Mysteries of Cormoran Strike – Part 2: Cratylic Names How To Come Up With Book Character Names How to Cre...

In this episode, I read out loud chapter six from Champion in the Darkness. After that, I discuss what went into the chapter, including both interior and exterior conflict in each scene, and how I feel writing is a progressive skill we learn over time. I also mention two promotional offers for the month of May 2024. With Magic and Mayhem , you can receive a free e-copy of Champion in the Darkness...

In this episode, I discuss the main definition of literature as all written work, the trouble with separating out specific works as "literary," and writing what we love. References: Brittanica on Literature Scott Reintgen - an author I consider to be a master craftsman My website where you can find my work: Tyrean's Tales Go to these two links for free or discounted books with BookFunnel, includin...

In this episode, I read Champion in the Darkness, Chapter 5, and then discuss what went into creating the battle scene, plus why I write multiple characters and how I write them. Find out what I learned while writing this chapter, what I have learned since, and what I think of the book ten years later. Champion in the Darkness Universal Link Promotional links mentioned in this episode, good for Ma...